Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common and fatal malignant tumors worldwide, and the burden of HCC is particularly severe in China. Physiologically, the blood supply to healthy liver is mainly from the portal vein, supplemented by the hepatic artery. While in the development of HCC, the main source of blood supply to HCC is changed from the portal vein to the hepatic artery. The characteristics of HCC vascularization are important for imaging, surgery, interventional therapy, targeted therapy, etc. Even in the future, with the development of radiation therapy technology, such as proton and heavy ion therapy and artificial intelligence technology, the dynamic changes in HCC blood perfusion can be used as a new biomarker of tumor activity to provide accurate information on the intensity modulation of radiotherapy, so that accurate measurements of HCC blood perfusion is of great significance in guiding the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. The technologies for measurement of HCC blood perfusion have developed from invasive techniques, such as inert gas scavenging, electromagnetic flowmeter, and radionuclide-labeled erythrocyte elution in the middle of the last century to the present non-invasive techniques of CT. With the development of CT imaging technology in the last 30 years, the CT-based imaging technology can assess the status of organ and tissue perfusion relatively easily and accurately. In this paper, the various CT measurement techniques of blood perfusion in HCC were categorized into three types: semi-quantitative technique, relative quantitative technique, and absolute quantitative technique. Their basic principle, scanning methods, and clinical applications were discussed to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common and fatal malignant tumors worldwide, and the burden of HCC is particularly severe in China. Physiologically, the blood supply to healthy liver is mainly from the portal vein, supplemented by the hepatic artery. While in the development of HCC, the main source of blood supply to HCC is changed from the portal vein to the hepatic artery. The characteristics of HCC vascularization are important for imaging, surgery, interventional therapy, targeted therapy, etc. Even in the future, with the development of radiation therapy technology, such as proton and heavy ion therapy and artificial intelligence technology, the dynamic changes in HCC blood perfusion can be used as a new biomarker of tumor activity to provide accurate information on the intensity modulation of radiotherapy, so that accurate measurements of HCC blood perfusion is of great significance in guiding the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. The technologies for measurement of HCC blood perfusion have developed from invasive techniques, such as inert gas scavenging, electromagnetic flowmeter, and radionuclide-labeled erythrocyte elution in the middle of the last century to the present non-invasive techniques of CT. With the development of CT imaging technology in the last 30 years, the CT-based imaging technology can assess the status of organ and tissue perfusion relatively easily and accurately. In this paper, the various CT measurement techniques of blood perfusion in HCC were categorized into three types: semi-quantitative technique, relative quantitative technique, and absolute quantitative technique. Their basic principle, scanning methods, and clinical applications were discussed to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Objective To analyze thein vivo three-dimensional dose verification using electronic portal imaging device(EIVD)for intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)of cervical cancer for investigating the differences between the measured and planned doses,and explore the optimal threshold for gamma passing rate in EIVD quality control based on dosimetric sensitivity.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 45 patients with cervical cancer who underwent IMRT at Women's Hospital,School of Medicine,Zhejiang University.During the treatment,all patients underwent EIVD to obtain the measured doses.The passing rate was analyzed using global gamma criteria of 2 mm/2%,2 mm/3%,and 3 mm/3%.Additionally,dose-volume histogram parameters were utilized to evaluate any differences between the measured and planned doses.Pearson correlation analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between the gamma passing rate and dosimetric differences.Furthermore,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was generated to determine the optimal threshold for the gamma passing rate.Results The average gamma passing rates for the criteria of 2 mm/2%,2 mm/3%,and 3 mm/3%were 83.07%±5.25%,91.69%±3.52%,and 95.02%±2.46%,respectively.The Dmean deviation between EIVD measurement and planned dose in the planning target area was 2.43%(P=0.016),while the Dmean deviations in the bladder,rectum,and small intestine were 0.35%,0.46%,and 0.30%,respectively(P>0.05).Pearson analysis revealed a strong correlation between the 3 gamma indexes and dosimetric differences in the PTV(r>0.7),but a weak correlation with organs-at-risk(r<0.7).ROC analysis indicated that the optimal gamma passing rate thresholds for the criteria of 2 mm/2%,2 mm/3%,and 3 mm/3%were 79.06%,90.04%,and 94.19%,respectively.Conclusion The implementation of EIVD can ensure the accuracy of dose delivery within the PTV during IMRT for cervical cancer.Moreover,establishing a gamma passing rate threshold provides a valuable clinical basis for subsequent adaptive IMRT for cervical cancer.

Objective To prepare decellularized scaffolds from rabbit cartilage at various concentrations and assess their physicochemical properties and compatibility with stem cells to provide an experimental basis for cartilage repair.Methods Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)were cultured using the Percoll density gradient separation method,and this was followed by flow cytometric analysis and testing of their osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation capabilities.Cartilage pieces were excised from rabbit knees and hip joints and subjected to physical crushing,repeated freeze-thaw cycles,and mixed enzymatic digestion for decellularization.To compare and observe the physicochemical properties of the decellularized scaffolds at different concentrations,three groups of scaffolds(labelwd A,B,and C)were designed with concentrations of 100％,50％and 30％,with three replicates each.Third-generation PKH26-labeled BMSCs were seeded onto optimally concentrated scaffolds and cultured for 1 week to observe cell growth.Results Flow cytometry detected BMSC surface antigens with positive expression of CD44 and CD90 and negative expression of CD45.Osteogenic induction stained with alizarin red showed red calcific nodules,and chondrogenic induction stained with alcian blue showed blue cartilaginous nodules.No apparent cell morphology was observed in the three groups of scaffolds stained with hematoxylin-eosin,and toluidine blue.There was a significant difference in DNA concentration between decellularized samples and non-decellularized scaffolds(P＜0.05).The content of glycosaminoglycans was slightly lower than the normal values.Significant differences were observed between the three groups of scaffolds in terms of pore size,water absorption,porosity,tensile strength,and Young's modulus(P＜0.05).After co-cultivation of stem cells with the scaffolds,cell adhesion was found to be good.Conclusions Percoll density gradient separation can obtain high-purity rabbit BMSCs,and the mixed decellularization method is superior.Group B scaffolds were the most suitable for tissue-engineered cartilage repair.BMSCs cultured in vitro grew well on Group B scaffolds.

The study adopted muscle injection of pVAX1-SP-GHRH(1-44)expression plasmid and electrostimulation to determine its effects on mouse growth and sow production performance.One hundred and fifty four-week-old C57 BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 5 replicates each.Muscle single-injection followed by electrostimulation was performed.The con-trol group received an empty plasmid injection(80 μg/kg),while the treatment groups received pVAX1-SP-GHRH(1-44)plasmid injections(20,40,80,120,160 μg/kg).Twenty healthy preg-nant sows were randomly divided into 2 groups,each with 10 sows.Electrostimulation treatment was applied to the semimembranosus muscle of the pregnant sows after a single injection.The con-trol group received physiological saline injection,while the plasmid group received a 2 mg pVAX1-SP-GHRH(1-44)expression plasmid injection.Mouse weight,feed intake,and serum GHRH and IGF-1 levels were measured at days 0,7,14,21,and 28 after injection.Pregnant sows were bled via the tail vein at days 0,14,28,and 42 after injection,and their serum was separated to measure serum GHRH and IGF-1 levels.The birth weight,placental weight,number of piglets born,number of healthy piglets,number of weak piglets,number of deformed piglets,number of stillborn piglets,and number of mummified piglets were recorded at day 14.The mouse study re-sults showed that muscle injection of pVAX1-SP-GHRH(1-44)plasmid followed by electrostim-ulation could promote mouse feeding and increase weight gain(P＜0.05),significantly increase mouse serum GHRH and IGF-1 levels(P＜0.05),and maintain its effects until day 21.The results of the pregnant sow study showed that the average birth weight of the piglets in the plasmid group was significantly increased(P＜0.01),and the placenta weight was significantly increased(P＜0.05).The serum GHRH and IGF-1 concentrations in the plasmid group sows were significantly increased(P＜0.01).The study results showed that muscle injection of pVAX1-SP-GHRH(1-44)expression plasmid followed by electrostimulation could promote mouse feeding and increase weight gain,and also significantly improve the average birth weight and placental weight of the piglets in pregnant sows.

Objective:To explore the pathogenesis of flunarizine-induced parkinsonism from gut-brain axis perspective.Methods:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and flunarizine group ( n=15). Mice in the control group were given 0.1 mL 50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage once/d for 2 weeks, while mice in the flunarizine group were given 6 mg/mL flunarizine+50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg for 2 weeks. Body mass was recorded 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration, and motor function was assessed by rotarod test 14 d after drug administration; 16s RNA sequencing was performed in the feces to observe the intestinal flora; intestinal transit function was detected by Evans blue by gavage; and then, the mice were sacrificed and homogenate or frozen sections (brain and intestinal tissues) were prepared; dopamine-ergic neuron expression was detected by Western blotting; RT-qPCR was applied to detect the expressions of inflammatory factors in the substantia nigra, and immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 in the intestinal epithelial tissues. Results:Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had lower body mass ratio 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration (ratio to body mass before drug administration). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly shortened residence time in rod rotating and lower rotational speed when falling ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had decreased tyrosine hydroxylase protein in the substantia nigra without significant difference ( P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the substantia nigra (1.00±0.00 vs. 2.79±0.83; 1.00±0.00 vs. 3.39±1.37), significantly lower intestinal Evans blue propulsion rate (80.67%±4.51% vs. 50.67%±6.03%), and statistically decreased ZO-1 and Claudin-5 expressions in the colonic epithelial tissues (27.01±1.41 vs. 16.32±2.83; 37.00±2.80 vs. 24.52±2.12, P<0.05). Totally, 576 microorganisms were noted in both control group and flunarizine group, 744 in the control group alone, and 634 in the flunarizine group alone. The intestinal flora β diversity indices in the 2 groups were significantly different based on weighted Unifrac-principle coordinates analysis (PCoA, PCoA1: 39.88%; PCoA2: 30.69%). Compared with the control group, the microbial colony structure of mice in flunarizine group was dominated by phylum thick-walled bacteria and phylum warty microbacteria, and by families Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Akkermansiaceae. Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly decreased relative abundance of Ackermannia spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in the intestinal flora ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Flunarizine may contribute to the pathogenesis of DIP by causing structural disturbances in the intestinal flora and inducing neuroinflammation based on the gut-brain axis.

Objective:To observe the effect of percutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on myocardial structural remodeling, electrical remodeling and apoptosis in rats of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and to explore the relationship between this effect and oxidative stress.Methods:The arteriovenous fistula was closed by ligation two weeks after establishment in SD rat.By increasing cardiac volume load in the short term, a rat model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction was constructed.Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups, with 10 rats in each group: sham operation group(S), abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava fistula + closure group(AVF+ L), abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava fistula + closure+ percutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation group(AVF+ L+ tVNS)and abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava fistula + closure+ percutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation + acetylcholine M 2 receptor antagonist group(AVF+ L+ tVNS+ M -). Rats in the AVF+ L+ tVNS group received percutaneous vagal nerve stimulation on the basis of those in the AVF+ L group.Rats in the AVF+ L+ tVNS+ M - group received daily injection of acetylcholine M 2 receptor antagonist mesotramine(0.5mg/Kg)into tail vein on the basis of those in the AVF+ L+ tVNS group.The parameters of cardiac structural remodeling and electrical remodeling in each group were obtained by cardiac ultrasound and cardiac electrophysiological stimulator.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the values of B-type natriuretic peptide precursor(NT-proBNP)and oxidative stress-related indicators in each group.hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the damage of myocardial structure, disorder of cell arrangement and infiltration of inflammatory cells.Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)staining and apoptosis index was calculated.reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of B cell lymphoma / leukemia-2(BCL-2)and apoptosis promoting gene(BAX)in BCL-2 gene family. Results:The rats in the AVF + L group developed heart failure characterized by ventricular wall hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, and the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)was >50 %.The rat heart failure model with preserved ejection fraction was successfully established.HE staining showed that the myocardial tissue structure damage, cell arrangement disorder and inflammatory cell infiltration were obvious in AVF+ L group, while the pathological changes of myocardial tissue in AVF+ L+ tVNs were significantly less than those in AVF+ L group.Compared with AVF+ L group, in the AVF+ L+ tVNs, the value of NT-proBNP decreased[(301.25 ± 16.07)ng/L vs.(79.33±5.63)ng/L, P<0.05], the value of E/A increased(1.28 ± 0.06 vs.1.66 ±0.05, P<0.05), the expression of BCL-2 mRNA[0.08(0.07, 0.08) vs.0.70(0.64, 0.76), P<0.05]and BCL-2 protein(0.19±0.03 vs.0.46±0.04, P<0.05)both increased, the expression of BAX mRNA(5.00±0.32 vs.2.14±0.36, P<0.05)and BAX protein(0.76±0.04 vs.0.43±0.05, P<0.05)both decreased, while the apoptotic index was also decreased(16.26±0.32 vs.7.04±0.24, P<0.05). Compared with AVF + L group, the indexes of myocardial structural remodeling, electrical remodeling and oxidative stress were decreased in AVF + L + tVNs group(P<0.05). Compared with AVF + L group, there was no significant difference in the above indexes in AVF + L + tVNS + M - group( P>0.05). Conclusions:tVNS can alleviate myocardial structural remodeling, electrical remodeling and apoptosis in HFpEF rats, which may be related to the reduction of oxidative stress response activity.

Objective:To compare the effects of intensive and standard blood pressure control on the outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation who have successfully recanalized after endovascular therapy (EVT).Methods:A multicenter, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomized controlled design was used. Patients with anterior circulation stroke received EVT and successfully recanalized in Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University and several branch hospitals from July 2020 to October 2022 were prospectively included. They were randomly divided into the intensive blood pressure control group (target systolic blood pressure [SBP] 100-120 mmHg) or the standard blood pressure control group (target SBP 121-140 mmHg). The blood pressure of both groups needs to achieve the target within 1 h and maintain for 72 h. The primary outcome endpoint was outcome at 90 d, and the good outcome was defined as a score of 0-2 on the modified Rankin Scale. Secondary outcome endpoints included early neurological improvement, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) within 24 h, and death and serious adverse events within 90 d.Results:A total of 120 patients were included, including 63 in the intensive blood pressure control group and 57 in the standard blood pressure control group. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The SBP at 72 h after procedure was 122.7±8.1 mmHg in the intensive blood pressure control group and 130.2±7.4 mmHg in the standard blood pressure control group, respectively. There were no significantly differences in the good outcome rate (54.0% vs. 54.4%; χ2=0.002, P=0.963), the early neurological improvement rate (45.2% vs. 34.5%; χ2=1.367, P=0.242), the incidence of sICH (6.3% vs. 3.5%; P=0.682), mortality (7.9% vs. 14.0%; χ2=1.152, P=0.283) and the incidence of serious adverse events (12.7% vs. 15.8%; χ2=0.235, P=0.628) at 90 d between the intensive blood pressure control group and the standard blood pressure control group. Conclusion:In patients with anterior circulation stroke and successful revascularization of EVT, early intensive blood pressure control don’t improve clinical outcomes and reduce the incidence of sICH.

Objective:To report the surgical techniques and clinical outcomes of multi-dimensional fixation of patellar multi-fragmentary fractures with locking plates.Methods:A retrospective study was performed in the 26 patients with patellar multi-fragmentary fracture who had undergone open reduction and 3-D internal fixation with locking plates from November 2016 to July 2020 at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. There were 17 males and 9 females, with an average age of 62.6 years (from 31 to 90 years). The patellar fractures were exposed and reduced via the longitudinal anterior midline incision of the knee. After the reduction was initially maintained with a cerclage wire, a trimmed and pre-contoured 3.5 mm locking plate was applied onto the patellar surface. After-wards, locking screws were inserted from the lower pole to the upper pole of the patella, from the anterior to the posterior and from the lateral to the medial, respectively, to complete the multi-planar fixation. Follow-ups assessed the B?stman score, knee pain visual analogue scale (VAS), radiographic image and fracture healing, range of motion of the knee, and complications.Results:All the 26 patients were followed up for 12 to 56 months (average, 28 months). Crutches were used while walking until an average of 1.6 months (from 1 to 3 months) after operation in all patients. At the last follow-up, the B?stman score averaged 27.5 points (from 17 to 30 points), yielding 12 excellent, 13 good and 1 poor case with an excellent to good rate of 96.2% (25/26); the knee pain VAS averaged 1.2 points (from 0 to 5 points); the active knee flexion averaged 125° (from 100° to 150°). No breakage, loosening or displacement of the patellar plates or screws was observed during follow-up, but cerclage wire breakage occurred without any symptom in 11 cases. Four patients complained of hardware irritation, and 4 patients underwent hardware removal after fracture union.Conclusion:Multi-dimensional fixation with locking plates is a viable and safe surgical option for patellar multi-fragmentary fractures, due to its satisfactory therapeutic outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) for stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who received intravenous thrombolysis.Methods:From May 2015 to April 2017, the clinical data of the patients with AIS treated with intravenous thrombolysis in Nanjing First Hospital were collected retrospectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for SAP in patients with AIS after intravenous thrombolysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and nomogram-based methods were used to analyze the predictive value of hs-CRP for SAP. Results:A total of 243 patients with AIS who received intravenous thrombolysis were included, and 63 (34.6%) of them had SAP. There were significant differences in age ( P=0.006), leukocyte count ( P=0.044), fasting blood glucose level ( P=0.003), serum hs-CRP level ( P=0.001), hs-CRP classification ( P=0.001) and dysphagia rate ( P=0.035) between the SAP group and non-SAP group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for the confounding factors, taking the first quartile of serum hs-CRP level as a reference, the third quantile (odds ratio [ OR] 18.790, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 4.771-74.007; P=0.001) and the fourth quantile ( OR 54.054, 95% CI 12.248-324.088; P=0.001) of hs-CRP were the independent predictors of SAP. The area under the ROC curve of the baseline serum hs-CRP level for predicting SAP was 0.805 (95% CI 0.742-0.868; P<0.001). When the optimal cut-off value of hs-CRP was 5.54 mg/L, the sensitivity and specificity of predicting SAP were 76.11% and 76.19%, respectively. The analysis of nomogram also showed that hs-CRP was an independent predictor of SAP (consistency index 0.862, 95% CI 0.738-0.986; P<0.001). Conclusions:The increased serum hs-CRP was an independent predictor of SAP in patients with AIS receiving intravenous thrombolysis, and had a higher predictive value.